I've been getting my garden taken care of by a really kind older gentleman who's recently retired. He loves gardening and has been cutting my garden for the last two years. He makes it clear that he doesn't want to talk about money and says he only charges me £100 for his work, which feels low to me. I always try to show my appreciation with coffee, water, and lunch, plus I give him tools I no longer use and help with cleanup. I sometimes feel guilty and wonder if I should be paying him more, but he insists he's not doing it for the money. Am I overthinking this?
3 Answers
If he’s okay with £100, then he’s good. Maybe suggest that he could use a bit of an increase every now and then since it seems he's doing a lot of hard work. If he’s not into that, why not proposition giving him a little extra as a donation for his charity work he does for others? That way, he might feel better about accepting it!
He clearly loves what he does and values the interaction more than the money aspect. Little gestures like preparing him a meal or giving him a small gift would likely mean a lot to him and show your appreciation without complicating things with money. Just keep the good vibes going!
I love that! I always try to offer him food when he's here.
It sounds like he’s really content with that arrangement! Just keep being friendly and helpful; that means a lot to him too. If he seems happy with £100, it's okay to stick with that for now. Maybe check in with him every now and then to make sure he's still good with it, but no need to make it awkward. Just enjoy the company and the garden!
Thanks! That really helps ease my mind. I just want to make sure he feels appreciated.
That's a great idea! I might bring that up with him next time.